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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imamate, The Vicegerency of the Prophet (S) Part 2: The Shi'ite Point of View The Necessity of Imamate and the Qualifications of an Imam A. Necessity of Imamate From the Shi'ite point of view, the institution of Imamate is necessary, according to reason. It is lutf (grace) of Allah which brings the creature towards obedience and keeps him away from disobedience, without compelling the creature in any way.

It has been proved in the Shi'ite theology that lutf is incumbent on Allah. When Allah orders that man to do something yet is aware that man cannot do it or that it is very difficult without His assistance, then if Allah does not provide this assistance, He would be contradicting His own aim. Obviously, such negligence is evil according to reason. Therefore lutf is incumbent on Allah.

Imamate is a lutf , because as we know when men have a chief ( ra'is ) and guide ( murshid ) whom they obey, who avenges the oppressed of their oppressor and restrains the oppressor, then they draw nearer to righteousness and depart from corruption. And because it is a lutf , it is incumbent on Allah to appoint an Imam to guide and lead the ummah after the Prophet.[^1] B.

Superiority (afdaliyyah) The Shi'ahs believe that, like the Prophet, an Imam should excel the ummah in all virtues, such as knowledge, bravery, piety and charity, and should possess complete knowledge of the Divine Law. If he does not, and this high post is entrusted to a less perfect person when a more perfect one is available, the inferior will have been given preference over the superior, which is wrong in reason and against Divine Justice.

Therefore, no inferior person may receive Imamate from Allah when there exists a person superior to him.[^2] C. Infallibility The second qualification is ' ismah (infallibility). If the Imam is not infallible ( ma'sum ) he would be liable to err and also deceive others. ^3 Firstly, in such a case, no implicit confidence may be placed in what he says and dictates to us. Secondly, an Imam is the ruler and head of the ummah and the ummah should follow him unreservedly in every matter.

Now, if he commits a sin the people would be bound to follow him in that sin as well. The undeniability of such a position is self-evident; for obedience in sin is evil, unlawful and forbidden.